Former Oprah school matron pleads not guilty

A former dormitory matron charged with abuse at United States talk show host Oprah Winfrey’s girls academy in South Africa on Tuesday pleaded not guilty.

Virginia Mokgobo (27), arrested in November and out on bail, is facing charges relating to common assault, harassment and soliciting a minor to perform indecent acts and verbal abuse. She appeared in the Sebokeng Magistrate’s Court, south of Johannesburg.

“She pleaded not guilty to all the charges; they are reserving her defence, I don’t know till when,” said state prosecutor Etienne Venter.

Testimony from six minors will be heard in-camera and media will be allowed in court on Friday.

“The reason is that the children are scared to be seen,” Venter said.

Winfrey, a billionaire philanthropist who has herself told of suffering sexual abuse as a child, has described the charges against the matron as one of the most devastating experiences of her life.

The $40-million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in January 2007. In March last year, some parents complained the school was too strict and its restrictions on visits, phone calls and email contact were comparable to rules in prisons.

Then in May, they complained their children were not allowed junk food and, when they visited the school, they had to go through a security gate.—Reuters